Manchester Airport grounds flights to China as virus fears grow

Flights to China from Manchester Airport have been suspended due to the Coronavirus outbreak.

The UK Government has recommended that British citizens leave China as soon as possible.

And now Hainan Airlines, which flies from Manchester to China three times a week has cancelled services.

Manchester Airport has confirmed the route, which runs on Friday, Sunday and Tuesday in winter, will be suspended from tomorrow.

The suspension lasts until March 28 affecting 21 flights.

Manchester Airport has announced plans to launch a Shanghai route in March with Juneyao Air. No announcement has been made yet about the service.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab issued a statement advising all British nationals to leave China.

He said: “The safety and security of British people will always be our top priority.

“As such, we now advise British Nationals in China to leave the country if they can, to minimise their risk of exposure to the virus.

“Where there are still British Nationals in Hubei Province who wish to be evacuated, we will continue to work around the clock to facilitate this.

There have been 425 deaths from coronavirus in China with 20,000 confirmed cases.